The Vikings celebrate their second successive IRU premiership in 2011.
RUGBY UNION
The Wollongong Vikings are counting on the arrival of former NSW Waratahs and Fijian assistant coach Shannon Fraser to co-incide with a return to the Illawarra Rugby finals.
Premiers in 2010 and '11, the Blueys failed to advance to the playoffs last season.
Fraser recently returned to the region to take up arole with the Illawarra Academy of Sport and Vikings officials soon asked if he was interested in joining them.
Vikings coach Mark Foster said Fraser would "oversee the development of the technical and tactical direction of the club".
"We're thrilled to bits to have Shannon on board," Foster said.
"Having coached at the highest levels in Fiji, Japan and Australia, he brings a wealth of experience to the club and the region.
"The guys are already responding well to the training program."
Fraser has been impressed with what he has seen at training.
"The level of commitment and the desire to improve displayed by the playing group has been really pleasing," Fraser said.
"If things continue the way they've started, Vikings will be a real force to be reckoned with in 2013.
"Numbers at training have consistently been high, which is extremely positive this time of the season. That will only add to the competitiveness of the club as individuals fight for positions."
Fraser is determined to re-establish a winning culture at Vikings with a strong emphasis on free-flowing rugby.
"It's certainly about winning but it's important that we play an attractive style the players, supporters, club and community can relate to and be immensely proud of, and that we enjoy the way we play," he said.
"Vikings historically were fearless, battle-hardened warriors with an unwavering desire to conquer, and they possessed exceptional skills in combat situations. Obviously rugby is a different sort of contest to those days, but they're certainly the qualities and characteristics we want to portray within our club culture."
The Blueys are inviting interested players to train with the club on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at JJ Kelly Park.
